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Welcome to Macro Sunday. I actually took these pictures a few weeks ago, but never got around to posting them.

Five Leaf Akebia pod

We have a Five Leaf Akebia vine twining along the railing of our backyard deck. My husband is the garden expert at our house, so I’d never paid much attention to this vine before.

Five Leaf Akebia pod

A couple of weeks ago, he called me outside to show me these giant-sized seed pods!

Opened pod of a Five Leaf Akebia vine.

I was astonished at the size of the pods. Some were over 4 inches long! Heavy with seeds, the pods caused the vine to droop down.

Five Leaf Akebia seed pod.

Surely this vine had never produced such extraordinary fruits before! However, my husband said that, yes, these pods grow every year at this time.

This one makes me laugh! It looks like it is talking!

Well that humbled me! We’ve lived here 7 years now and I’ve been totally oblivious to these long, fat seed pods!

Five Leaf Akebia seed pod.

This experience taught me the importance of really seeing things, of looking deeply and paying attention. What’s the point of having a beautiful garden, if I’m not truly present in the moment. If I am too preoccupied with the cares of today or with concerns about the future, then I’m unable to accept the gifts our garden is offering me in the present moment. Gifts of beauty, abundance, calm, color and the cycle of life. I must make sure I am really living with my eyes open!

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Hey! who let the gremlins in here???? I never said they could doodle on my picture!

“Hello there friendly reader!”

Oh well, I guess I couldn’t remain so seriously philosophical for too much longer…..

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Lori ofStudio Waterstone hosts a weekly blog hop of close-up photos.
Visit Lori to get links to more great macro shots.

We recently visited a small town, north of us, called LaConner. The town has a reputation for many delightful art galleries and boutiques. The weather was gorgeous and we enjoyed meandering from shop to shop and then stopping at a small pub, overlooking the water, for a lunch of fish and chips. After lunch we strolled to the end of town and found an old, abandoned warehouse that was truly a photographer’s delight. Technically these are not macro shots. They are close-ups. But whatever–I hope you enjoy them. The last picture steps back from the warehouse to give you an impression of the size and overall appearance.

Abandoned warehouse, LaConner, WA

Abandoned warehouse in LaConner, WA

Abandoned warehouse in LaConner, WA

Abandoned warehouse, LaConner, WA

Abandoned warehouse, LaConner, WA

Abandoned warehouse, LaConner, WA

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Lori ofStudio Waterstone hosts a weekly blog hop of close-up photos.
Visit Lori to get links to more great macro shots.

I ♥ Macro Sunday!

Not satisfied being just a pretty garden flower, peonies are exuberantly large, with ruffled depth and petticoat-like ruffles. I love to snip the stems short and float the blossoms in shallow bowls or stemware dessert glasses.

Peony bud

peony bud bursting open

peony bud, stating to open

peony bud reaching skyward.

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Lori ofStudio Waterstone hosts a weekly blog hop of close-up photos.
Visit Lori to get links to more great macro shots.

I ♥ Macro Sunday!

I have a small collection of orchids, on my kitchen window sill, that I either nurture to bloom or kill. I seem to do a bit of both. Knowing that I love orchids, my family often gives me new orchids on my birthday or Mother’s Day. This past Mother’s Day, my daughter, Naomi, (a metalsmith) outdid herself in the orchid department.

She gave me this gorgeous orchid, that is still blooming gloriously. I thought it would make a great subject for this Sunday’s macro photo.

Mother’s Day orchid from Naomi

“But wait, that’s not all!”, as they say on TV. When my eyes lit upon the orchid pot, I saw that tucked into the rim were a pair of sterling silver orchid earrings that Naomi had designed for me!

Sterling silver orchid earrings – Gift from my daughter.

I was deeply touched by this gift. Here’s a pair of earrings, designed with love by my daughter, to reflect my personal passion for flowers, especially orchids. Check out the cool texturing, the exacting craftsmanship and the central rivet which holds it all together.

Orchid earring, close-up photo

I love these earrings and I wear them often. More importantly though; I love my daughter and am thankful for her thoughtful gift and her wonderful presence in my life.

Now, as a bonus, I’ll include a macro photo of another orchid of mine that is also in bloom at this time.

This one has been a reliable bloomer for several years now.

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Lori ofStudio Waterstone hosts a weekly blog hop of close-up photos.
Visit Lori to get links to more great macro shots.